(New) Saddleback Staging Area = (Old) Saddleback Park!!!

To be honest I don't know much about this but if it is what it appears to be, they may have just reopened (as of March '23) the old Saddleback Park location........for bicycling, hiking, and equestrian use. Amazing! I wonder if the authorities have any idea they may have just unleashed a vortex tornado calling to the former Mecca of Motocross and easily the most famous cycle park in US history. Geezer MXers wishing to once again set foot/tire on sacred motocross holy ground, rejoice and let the pilgrimage begin!

I occasionally look at the Earth satellite photo of the old Saddleback Park just to bring back the great memories from the '70s and early '80s. Despite the overgrowth, it's still easy to locate and make out the outline of the main track (3066 Santiago Canyon Rd). I looked at it again with the newest March 2023 satellite photo and noticed something different. It looked like the original dirt entry way and what used to be the old pit area had been paved. It turns out from a little research it's not pavement but rather gravel instead. It only looks like pavement in the high altitude photo.

It looks like the trailhead begins right out of the new parking lot and runs to the northeast alongside and initially parallel with the former starting line...aka...the world's best natural dyno. It then snakes around and approaches the old track near/above where Banzai hill is/was located. I don't know if the natural brush overgrowth is so thick as to make those sections non passable or if they have posted instructions to always remain on the newly cut trails. Regardless, the mind reels what the possibilities for this area could become if the rules and restrictions aren't too strict!

I can vision it now!!! A bunch of old men ranging in age from about 50 to 90 showing up on a Saturday/Sunday morning with their old Ford/Dodge/Chevy vans and pickup trucks complete with CMC/CRC and other vintage MX decals on the rear windows. Unloading their mountain bike steed and setting it up on a milk crate to lube the chain and tighten the nuts and bolts. Suiting up in a vintage Maico/CZ/Montesa/Bultaco/Husqvarna/Can Am or big 4 Japanese brand jersey maybe a size or two too small. Must have been made with '70's defective shrinking thread! Ok, we'll just go with that theory for now. An occasional Braaaaaaaaaaap!!!!!! emanating from the silencer.......ooops I mean the rider's mouth. And best of all, reliving the epic battles (such as Hannah v Magoo from the '79 National) still frozen in our memories from days gone by on this hallowed ground.